Mobile Learning and Indigenous Education in Canada: A Synthesis of New Ways of Learning

M-Learning holds great potential for supporting the positive educational outcomes of underserved Indigenous communities in the Candian North, and even in urban centers, that are at risk of exclusion from affordable, high-quality learning experiences. The technical advantages of having mobile technology to deliver educational curricula and assess outcomes, however, must not overshadow the continuing need for culturally relevant teaching modalities that work for Indigenous learners. When used innovatively, mobile learning can be integrated successfully into a context of existing practices, beliefs, experiences, and values related to Indigenous epistemologies and pedagogies. These mobile technologies are not only helping Indigenous learners to develop new media aptitudes, they are providing an opportunity for learners and instructors to develop stronger links between formal and informal learning opportunities, building on the inherently mobile and contextual traditions of Indigenous peoples.